NHIAA Football: Bedford stuns Pinkerton

BEDFORD — Undoubtedly, many people were stunned when they saw the final score from Friday night's Division I game between Bedford and Pinkerton Academy. One person who wasn't surprised to see Bedford come away with a 14-12 victory was Pinkerton coach Brian O'Reilly.

"There is no shock here from me," O'Reilly said. "I wasn't surprised. I know other people were because they were coming up from Division I, but I play these guys in lacrosse. I know the athletes they have here. We weren't looking past this game."

Pinkerton turned the ball over on its final three possessions. Defensive lineman Eric Glassman caused two fumbles earlier in the half.

It was Bedford's first Division I game after competing in Division II last season.

"I'm at a loss for words right now," Glassman said. "This is a great feeling."

Pinkerton running back Manny Latimore rushed for 134 yards on 19 carries, but was bothered by cramps in the second half.

Pinkerton grabbed a 6-0 lead when Latimore scored on a 46-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, but Bedford answered on the ensuing possession. The Bulldogs took over on their own 34 and needed eight plays to find the end zone. Colella scored the TD on an 18-yard run with 7:47 left in the half. McCoole's point-after kick handed Bedford a 7-6 lead.

Two of Bedford's four other first-half possessions ended inside the Pinkerton 10-yard line.

Pinkerton went up 12-7 on Matt Madden's 1-yard run with 6:55 left in the third, but Pinkerton's offense struggled after that.

"We couldn't run the ball between the tackles consistently tonight," O'Reilly said. "Our problem is up front or blocking with the backs, or a combination of the two. That's our problem"